Letters to the Editor - July 31, 2007

Tuesday

Jul 31, 2007 at 3:15 AM

Dispelling Berwick turtle rumors

To the editor:

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Mr. Blanding's Turtle Number 198 ("Endangered turtle found in Berwick area destined for housing units," July 19). It has come to my attention that there has been some discussion on where I have been found.

First, I would like to say that I have been minding my own business for quite some time now. However, I recently received an abutter's notice stating that my home is to be bulldozed to allow a species known as humans to invade my premises. Much to my chagrin, I was ill that evening and could not make the meeting.

I have to say, I am very taken aback by all this. I have done nothing to deserve this. But it is what it is.

As I was walking along, scoping out a new home, a species known as dog started sniffing my shell. Next thing I know one of those humans picked me up and another human marked me. So embarrassing. But the truth is, yes, I am on the endangered list.

Do you know how hard it is to get a date when you're on that list? And you thought you had problems. But what I really want to talk about is where my home is located and to dispel any myths about that.

Some say my home is located on Lot R-56/3/2; some say it is not. I am not going to say one way or another (although it would explain the abutter's notice). I just want to be left alone. But in answer to some of your questions ... no, President Putin did not drop me off on his way to see President Bush; no, I did not hop on a plane, train, automobile or any other device that humans are so fond of; no, I did not come from a flying spaceship; no, I did not hatch myself (Can we do that?); no, I was not carried from another town and placed specifically here. I can make decisions for myself.

I hope this dispels any of these rumors, myths, or other such conspiracy theories. Thank you.

As told to ...

Christina DeBoldBerwick, Maine

Don't change Dover's charter

To the editor:

Recently, I was approached by my city councilor, Harvey Turner, with a petition that would put a question on November's ballot to change the current budget process in Dover.

Currently, if the council does not pass a budget by a certain deadline, the operating budget for the next fiscal year defaults to the budget proposed by the city manager. The question on the ballot would change the charter to provide that the default budget would be the previous fiscal year's budget plus a cost-of-living increase (Foster's July 24). I don't see this as good for Dover.

An example of why this option won't work is what happened this year with the retirement system. This year the New Hampshire Retirement System increased the amount municipalities must contribute for each employee. This increase in contribution is mandatory. This year's increase was considerably higher than the cost of living. If the change to the city's charter had been made, and this council had failed to enact a new budget, the budget would not have covered this increase. That would have forced department heads to substantially cut services or lay off employees for the coming fiscal year.

This proposed change might encourage some councilors to drag their feet during the budget process, thereby allowing the previous fiscal year's budget to remain in effect.

Also, part of the paperwork that Councilor Turner presented was a history of Dover's budget which Mr. Turner explained has doubled in 10 years. However, Mr. Turner stated that his taxes have also doubled in 10 years. Although increases in the city's budget contribute to increasing taxes, one must also consider the effect that the sharp rise in property values has played. But, keep in mind that your home is now worth a lot more.

Do I want to see my taxes double in 10 years? No, but the taxes are worth the services we get. When we lived in Rochester, our taxes were not considerably less, yet our services were not as good as what we receive in Dover. The services that Dover provides are second to none. I feel better paying a little bit more for so much more. I love living in Dover and I am willing to pay for the privilege and the services.

Please, don't change the charter. In my opinion, City Manager Joyal submits reasonable budgets with the best interests of the community in mind.

Robin Marie Estee Dover

Heaven-sent angels

To the editor:

My wife, myself and a friend were enjoying a Sunday drive to Wells Beach, Maine. My wife was driving when suddenly the brakes of the car failed as we headed toward Moody along the shore. We quickly agreed to head home when the brakes caught and failed several times.

Nervously she drove ever-so slow onto Route 1, turning right to pick up Route 9-B. Once on that road she slowly headed west to Route 9. At that intersection she had to accelerate to make a left turn onto Route 9. No brakes whatsoever and a car was traveling east, fast approaching our van which could not stop. Both vehicles swerved narrowly missing each other.

My wife and I switched places as soon as we were able to stop on the edge of the highway so I could drive, when suddenly another van appeared behind us and the driver came to us to see if he could help. It turned out to be young Jeff Francouer of Somersworth who was driving his sister home to Somersworth in her van. Learning about the problem, he volunteered to stay behind and follow us home.

I drove slowly along the edge of Route 9 heading for North Berwick where I could leave the van to be towed later. Eventually I was able to pull in to a small shopping area which included Dunkin' Donuts.

Jeff and Kathie offered to take us home in their van, after shifting things around to accommodate us.

Still shaking from the ever-so close call, my wife and I and our friend gratefully accepted the ride home. Jeff drove us right to our front door at Sunnyhurst Apartments.

We are ever so grateful to two Good Samaritans who were heading home but took the time to stop and help us out. They would not accept gratuity, but we cannot thank them enough for their much appreciated and timely help.

Indeed, they were heaven-sent angels. We publicly thank them for their timely and extensive help.

Jack and Pauline LaBonteSomersworth

Traditional Latin Mass to return

To the editor:

Pope Benedict XVI has issued his "Moto Propio" (ruling) proclaiming the traditional Latin Mass may now be celebrated by any authorized priest either publicly or privately worldwide, effective Sept. 14. For a statement by Bishop McCormack and information with questions and answers by the U.S. Catholic Bishops go to www.catholicchurchnh.org/.

The traditional Latin Rite (Tridentine Mass) was instituted in the fifth century and codified by Pope Pius V at the Council of Trent,1570. It was set aside when the Mass of the 1970 Missal, with its use of the diocese vernacular language, was adopted. It is the belief of Pope Benedict XVI that availability of both will increase Mass attendance and spur religious vocations

Pope John Paul II wrote in his apostolic letter on July 2, 1988, "I decree the following: respect must everywhere be shown for the feelings of all those attached to the liturgical tradition for the use of the Roman Missal of 1962." Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed that the 1970 Missal and the Missal of 1962 are two expressions of the Latin Rite. The 1970 Mass is designated the "ordinary" form and the 1962 Mass the "extraordinary" form.

Special note: Any priest of the diocese interested in learning the Mass of the 1962 Missal, go to www.unavoce.org/news/2007/priest_training.html. Training conducted at the Seminary of the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, Denton, Neb.

Una Voce New Hampshire was founded in 1998 to have the Traditional Mass in the Manchester Diocese. Una Voce members and those who are interested in the Latin Mass can contact billstl60aol.com or mcame038verizon.net.

Marty CameronPortsmouth

Red Sox show disrespect for flag

To the editor:

I know their heart was in the right place, but their brains were absent when planning the "Picnic in the Park" at Fenway Park two weekends ago (Visit to Fox News for July 15, pilotswap.net/disrespect.html). Photos of people walking, standing, sitting, and eating on our American Flag made me sick. While it's lamentable that the people there didn't know any better, you'd think the people organizing this event in Fenway Park would have had better sense.

Numerous letters and phone calls to the Red Sox organization have met with deafening silence. I know the vast majority of Red Sox Nation patriots know better and are also upset.

Hey, Red Sox, next time you want to have an event and are planning on using the flag theme, ask a veteran how to treat it with respect. If you can't find one — ask an 11-year-old scout. Even they know better than to let it touch the ground, let alone walk on it.

To see these disgusting images of our flag being desecrated and follow a link to the Red Sox site to complain, go to pilotswap.net/disrespect.html.

Peter HarmonLee

Discretion part of police work

To the editor:

I read with amazement a July 24 letter to the editor titled, "Direct patrol policy questioned," by Monica Smith. It is hard to believe in today's society that someone believes police shouldn't write warnings in lieu of a summons for motor vehicle infractions, because there would be "no flow of funds from summonses into the public treasury." Mrs. Smith should have done her homework on the role of a law enforcement officer.

Nowhere in the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council curriculum does it state that the duty of a police officer is to raise funds for the "public treasury." On the contrary, an officer is trained to enforce the law by utilizing discretion and to educate the public when a violation is observed. This education may involve the issuance of a summons; however, on many occasions a warning is sufficient to accomplish the task. It is my hope the citizens of Durham do not want their police officers enforcing the law blindly and without discretion.

Each time an officer stops a motorist several things must be considered in his or her decision to issue a summons or warning. The first is the seriousness of the violation. Has the motorist received a prior warning or summons? What were the traffic and road conditions? Where there any extenuating circumstances that lead to the violation?

After consideration of these observations the officer makes a determination as to the best course of action necessary that will educate that particular motorist.

Take away this discretion and community policing is set back many years.

The Durham Police Department takes pride in the relationships crafted with the community. I have no doubt the majority of citizens in Durham want their officers to continue utilizing discretion and to remember that all violations are not the same, nor do they all require the same enforcement action.

Ed Levesque Lee

The following appear only on the web.

Government is costing too much

To the editor:

Once again our state, local governments and elected officials, are blinded by what is the obvious. There is only a certain amount of money available, and the manner in which we spend it must be curtailed so that we can afford needed highway and infrastructure improvements. The problem in funding is two fold.

First, we are spending too much money on education. We are not getting our money's worth. We have become delusional as to what is necessary for a proper education, and are paying outlandish prices for something that is totally unnecessary.

Second, we are becoming overpopulated. In the last 50 years we have doubled our population in the USA. We went from 150 million to 300 million people. What do you think will happen in the next 50 years? Most of our highway system was made and established during the Eisenhower administration, and we haven't kept up since.

As a nation, and for its survival, we must reduce the spending on education and curtail our excesses. The problems are only getting worst, and are not likely to improve anytime soon. In the interim, people will die in auto accidents, and the Earth's problems with global warming will continue.

Jean L. LeBrun Somersworth

Powwow is a grand event

To the editor.

A powwow is many voices of many nations coming together. The powwow in Lincoln, open to the public, will be Aug. 25 and 26.

From 9:30 to about 11:30 a.m. you will be greeted as you walk through the gates by flute music which will be played by several talented artists. This music will be heard throughout the powwow grounds until just before grand entry at noon.

The day's events begin a few hours before the grand entrance. This gives participants a chance to visit craft booths where a variety of beads, flutes, moccasins, clothing, artwork and other items are sold. Each day's main event is the grand entry.

For the attendees of the pow-wow, it is a chance to experience a different culture. The powwow for Native Americans is a chance to reaffirm connections to community, family and spirituality.

Many people have stereotypes or preconceived notions about Native Americans and are surprised when they come to a pow-wow and find us incorporating traditions with contemporary lifestyles.

There is usually a demonstration area set up for those interested in learning more about Native American culture, and also a few traditional games as well. Each element, from the spectacular grand entry, led by veterans in full regalia, to the heartbeat of the drums is imbued with meaning.

For more information contact 603-528-3005.

Kim White FeatherCenter Ossipee

When Obama is president ...

To the editor:

It's long past time we brought the Iraq war to an end. With each passing day, the civil war over there grows more unstable and more Americans are killed.

Because of this war, Americans are no safer than we were on Sept. 11, 2001. The Iraq war is the best recruiting tool al-Qaida could ask for. Tens of thousands of terrorists have been trained and radicalized in Iraq, and terrorism is up worldwide. And earlier this week, we learned from a National Intelligence Estimate that al-Qaeda has been regenerating its ability to strike our homeland.

Everywhere he goes, Sen. Obama has been urging Americans to turn up the pressure on their Senators if they're not voting to end the war. We still have work to do here in New Hampshire. We've got two Senators who are saying we need change in Iraq, but they aren't voting that way in Washington. We need to encourage them to vote their beliefs.

When Sen. Obama is President, there will be no misguided wars. He will have the same judgment on matters of war that he had back in 2002 when he opposed the war, even when it wasn't popular to do so. That's what true leadership is.

As for New Hampshire's Senators, if they don't switch their votes on Iraq, I'll be switching my vote next November.

Peter MathewsonPortsmouth

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